Thursday, July 3, 2008

Indie-Dependence Day


Tomorrow is the 4th of July. A great time for good friends and good tunes. The key to a cool Independence Day party mix are to keep things light. Nothing too heavy here, just some fun jams. I also used all new songs but most of them are so soaked in nostalgia that you'll remember them from your childhood. So go celebrate America's birth in style and save me a hot dog. 

The 4th of July Mix: (Right click to down load each track)
1. "Constructive Summer" by The Hold Steady
2. "Welfare Bread" by King Khan and the Shrines
3. "Gamma Ray" by Beck
4. "Keep On Rolling" by Quiet Village
5. "Can't Stop Moving" by Sonny J
6. "Collapsing At Your Doorstep" by Air France
7. "Bruleé" by Ratatat
8. "Gobbledigook" by Sigur Rós
9. "Born To Be Your Man" by Birdmonster
10. "The Rabbit,The Bat,& The Reindeer" by Dr. Dog
11. "The Boss America" by Albert Hammond Jr.
12. "Drop-Out" by Times New Viking
13. "The '59 Sound" by The Gaslight Anthem
14. "Easy Does It" by Bonnie "Prince" Billy

July Fools

This video is great. It actually has the ability to test your smarts. Give it a shot. Am I dumb?

 

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The Dark Knight, Best Movie of the Summer or All Time?


The buzz for this film is getting crazy. With all the hyperbole surrounding the Batman sequel Christopher Nolan must be constantly blushing. What I find most exciting is that all the hype could be valid. They've done everything right so far from the casting to the brilliant marketing campaign, so maybe the film is just as good. Check out the latest "viral" poster above. So good right? Maybe too good...

(via Collider)

Best Song Right Now


From the sound of their music you wouldn't guess Air France is from Sweden. Their homeland conjures up visions of snow caped mountains and endless winters. Yet somehow these guys get summer better then most. "Collapsing At Your Doorstep", off the recently released No Way Down Epbegins when you wake up hot and sweaty from sleep and ends when you're hot and sweaty from dance. In between we find ourselves brought to barbeques, oceans, and sunsets all viewed through the exuberant eyes of a child. Is it just a forgettable summer tune? No, better. 

"Collapsing At Your Doorstep" - Download

Come on, Catch up!

Hello there. Good to see you again. It's July and the year is half way over. It's the perfect time to sit town, take stock, and apreciate all the albums that have been relessed in 2008. Now, don't get too excited, there is still no frontrunner for AOTY (Album of the Year). It's a little discourageing considering last year at this time we were already blessed with "Boxer", "Person Pitch", "Sound Of Silver", "Neon Bible" and "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?" five albums that are superior then every album so far this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Music has been very nice to me in in O' 8. I'm just waiting for a masterpiece or two. Is that too much to ask? Anywho, here's what we've got so far:

Best of 07' in '08: 
"Vampire Weekend" by Vampire Weekend. Great album, get over it. 

"For Emma, Forever Ago" by Bon Iver. The perfect way to bring winter to LA.

Punk is not dead (It was just napping): 
"Nouns" by No Age. With this relesse, the Titus's album (below), as well as Times New Viking and The Gaslight Anthem, punk rock is back in my life (and better then ever).

"The Airing of Grievance" by Titus Andronicus. It's like, imagine if Conner Oberst had stayed in the Desperacidos and they decided to make an awesome album. 

And Folks all like "I'm Not Dead Either": 
"Visiter" by The Dodos. It's Annimal Collective you can take home to Mom. 

"Ragged Wood" by Fleet Foxes. The perfect way to bring Fall to LA.

Just Add Dancing: 
"In Ghost Colours" by Cut Copy. Sorry Hercules, but this is the best album to dance to in 2008.

"Hercules and The Love Affair" by Hercules and The Love Affair. But your album is pretty great too.

"Feed the Animals" by Girl Talk. RIP: The DJ, 1950 - 2008.

Obligatory Hip-Hop Albums:
"Tha Carter III" by Lil Wayne. How this quirky, odd and highly entertaining album sold over one million copies in it's first week is beyond me. Maybe the kids have better taste then I give them credit for. 

"The Bake Sale" by Cool Kids. The "Cool For White Indie Kids to Like" Hip-Hop album of the year.

Good to Hear you Again
"Stay Positive" by The Hold Steady. This album is disappointing in the same way Apocalypse Now was dissapointing. It's great, but not The Godfather II.

"Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust" by Sigur Ros. The most fun you'll ever have with a Sigur Ros album.

"Fate" by Dr. Dog. The album you always hoped they would make.

"Rook" by Shearwater. Moody, pretty, and haunting. Like your Ex-Girlfriend (who died).

"At Mount Zoomer" by Wolf Parade. After what seemed like an endless ammount of side projects from the members of this band it was hard to recall what they actully sounded like. After one listen to Mount Zoomer it'll be very hard to forget.

Some very good stuff up there, no? Yes. Still a lot to look forward to, icluding new stuff from Of Montreal, Conner Oberst (sans Bright Eyes moniker), The Walkmen, Kings Of Leon, and M. Ward. Though I have a feeling some band we've never heard of is going to come out of nowhere and make good on that masterpiece I'm waiting for. Come on guys, show me what you got.